2 comments so far...

I was unhappily married once. It was awful. Then I was a singe mother of three. Single was WAY BETTER. And no, I never felt anyone looked down on me. Now I am very happily married. Single is ... still appealing, some days,because single is more straightforward. Yes, there's no one to help with chores and childcare, and every decision is 100% yours -- BUT every decision is yours! You don't have to negotiate, you don't even have to consider. You just do. There's a tremendous freedom in that.

Let' see... bottom line: for myself, as a woman and individual person, I like the companionship of my marriage. As a mother? I was on my own as a parent for so long (even in my first marriage) that I don't need any parenting support. I* prefer* parenting on my own.

And so, my husband and I - because he is their step-father, not their biological dad - have worked out a system where I parent mine, he parents his, and we only parent each other's when essential. It works for us!

I'm a single mom. I don't feel like I am looked down on at all BUT I do feel like people can't seem to wrap their brain around the concept that I am single by design. I actually LIKE being single. I was married. Hated it. I dated. Hated it. Single life? LOVE! IT! People can't seem to understand that but I've never felt like people looked down on me. That could do with the fact that I feel stronger and more confidant as a single woman though. Maybe that confidence shines through. **shrugs** I dunno.